"As this story continues and as things begin to unravel, with emails, the actions of counterparts, resignations, engagement of defense counsel, that position becomes more and more difficult to understand, more and more difficult to comprehend, and quite frankly more and more difficult to believe," the mayor said.

CHRISTIE: "Later today I'm going to Fort Lee" to apologize to the Mayor and the people of those communities

by CNN's Ashley Killough1/9/2014 4:21:23 PM

Republican reaction (before the press conference):

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida:

After telling CNN’s Kate Bolduan that he didn’t think it would be “fair for me to comment on something I have no involvement in,” Rubio said he thinks we should allow the investigation process to move on.

“I think what we should do, for those of us who are watching this, is allow that process to move forward,” he said. “I understand that legislature there is looking at it, but I am just not going to comment on something that I know nothing about.”

“I think we should let this thing play forward and I think it would be fair to all sides to let this play forward,” Rubio said. “That, I think, is the right approach.”

Christie maintains he had "no knowledge or involvement" in the issue. "I am stunned by the abject stupidity that was shown here regardless of what the facts ultimately uncover. This was handled in a callous and indifferent way."

Christie live on CNN: "I am responsible for what happened under my watch... I apologize as governor for my failure." cnn.it/19VdhlT

by CNN's Ashley Killough1/9/2014 4:23:19 PM

New development in the calls for a formal investigation of the incident:

"The Port Authority Office of Inspector General has referred the matter to us, and our office is reviewing the matter to determine whether a federal law was implicated," Rebekah Carmichael, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney's Office in the District of New Jersey said in a statement.

Republican reaction to the bridge controversy (before the press conference)

Red State Editor-in-Chief Erick Erickson in a blog post on the site:

“This may be the rough and tumble of New Jersey politics, but it also comports to stereotypes of Christie as a bully and of New Jersey politics being seedy and corrupt. Taking charge and cleaning up could help Chris Christie quickly,” he wrote. “It isn’t rocket science. It is also a story that can go away quickly if Christie acts quickly.”